How Many Times to the Potty?

Updated on February 16, 2013
L.M. asks from Central Falls, RI
10 answers

My son is 3 1/2 he has been potty trained for a while and has done really well with no accidents. My concern though is he doesnt pee enough. He can go from 2PM one day til 9 AM the next sometimes. Some days from 7am to 8 PM he may only go twice. There is the occasional day where he may go 4 to 5 times a day but its rare! As far as his fluid intake I think its ok he drinks 2 to 3- 8 oz glasses of milk a day he drinks 2 - 8 oz glasses of juice a day and then he sips water through out the day or may sip what Im drinking. I have been told by friends lack of urinating can cause bladder infections no idea if this is true or not!!??

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So What Happened?

His juice is actually 50/50 water /juice so he drinks 8 oz juice and 8 oz water.and eats lots of fruits.

Featured Answers

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Does his pee seem dark yellow and concentrated?
If it is he needs more water more often.
If not - if it's colorless - then he's fine.

http://www.ehow.com/about_###-###-####_much-water-should-...

3 moms found this helpful

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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

Kids have amazing bladders. I have to go several times to my daughter's once. I agree with watching the color of his urine. It should be pale yellow, not dark yellow. That's the indicator that matters, not frequency. It sounds to me like he'd drinking enough, actually.

3 moms found this helpful

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Ditto Bug...and he really should be drinking no more than 4 oz juice per day. That's not just my opinion, doctors and dentists advise this.

2 moms found this helpful

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

I totally agree with Bug--he needs MUCH more water. Just this morning my husband (an MD) was in the bathroom when my oldest was urinating, and he noticed that the pee was very dark. He told me that I needed to make sure that my son drinks much more water.

My middle son (also 3.5), on the other hand, drinks water several times a day; 3 or 4 glasses of milk; juice once or twice a week (4-6 oz max); and more water before bedtime. He is always peeing, and it is always the proper color.

2 moms found this helpful
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B..

answers from Dallas on

Cut down other liquids and make sure he is drinking WATER!! Some people (or even doctors) say juice goes toward water total, but my doctor and many others...say not so. If he is only sipping water, that is absolutely not enough water. His kidneys, liver...all his organs NEED water to function properly. If he does not get water and does not urinate, of course that can cause bladder infections. He should be drinking 1-1/2 ounces of water, per pound of weight daily. (Straight from the toddler health guideline booklets from my pediatricians office.) If he weighs 30 pounds, he should be drinking 30 or more ounces of water daily. If he won't drink water, try ice water. Water down his juice. Feed him foods that are high in water. Many fruits have a high water content.

If you're asking for an opinion, going that long without urinating is NOT healthy.

2 moms found this helpful

S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

My boys (7&10) both drink a lot of water, and both can go very long periods without urinating. They probably only go two or three times a day. They have never had to get up at night to pee, or stop on a long car trip or use the public restrooms on outings, and they never seem to be uncomfortable, as though they are trying to hold it. Neither has ever suffered a bladder infection. I, on the otherhand, have to pee every hour or two all day long, and occasionally have to wake up at night to pee! I figured it was a guy thing.

1 mom found this helpful

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

I agree with checking the color of his pee...it will tell you if he is getting enough fluids.

My middle child is a hard core water drinker. All day long he is on the water and it seems like he never pees?! My oldest son I have to remind to drink water and it seems his bladder is a lot smaller cause he is always peeing?! I think we are all a little different in that way...so I say check his pee color!

1 mom found this helpful
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N.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

That's a good answer from B below.

My son pees less often now I've noticed. I figured he is getting some control of his bladder.

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

My pedi stresses milk, water and a small juice box (a few times a week) is all he needs. My kiddo gets caffree tea or light/watered down lemonade here and there too. Basicaly the qulity of urine is the importance - smelly/dark is bad; clear/light yellow not smelly is good - if you take lots of vitamis that could darken/smell up the urine b/c may pass thru via urine.

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R.M.

answers from Cumberland on

He needs to drink reverse osmosis water-i.e.-AquaFina-it is the most hydrating-please-no tap water-don't care how lovely and pure you think your water is-it isn't. What does the doctor say? Does your son eat a lot of foods that contain salt? Does he eat a lot of foods that contain sugar? All the best!

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